Overview

A fresh new look for the best-selling series from America’s number-one inspirational novelist, Karen Kingsbury. Fans will enjoy a personal note from Karen and Gary Smalley as well as discussion questions for book group use. Revisit the Baxter family in all their life-changing events, or share the series with someone who hasn’t discovered it yet.The Redemption series won Christian Retailing’s 2005 Retailer’s Choice Award for Best Series!

More About
This Book

Overview

A fresh new look for the best-selling series from America’s number-one inspirational novelist, Karen Kingsbury. Fans will enjoy a personal note from Karen and Gary Smalley as well as discussion questions for book group use. Revisit the Baxter family in all their life-changing events, or share the series with someone who hasn’t discovered it yet.The Redemption series won Christian Retailing’s 2005 Retailer’s Choice Award for Best Series!

Convinced she could make it on her own, Ashley Baxter has kept the most important people in her life at a distance—her family, the man who loves her, and the God she is sure can never forgive her. Now, just as she begins to open her heart, the events of September 11 rip into Ashley’s world and she is led to heartbreaking and hope-filled decisions that will forever change her life. This story vividly illustrates that we must value others more than ourselves, and it drives home one of Gary Smalley’s key messages: Honor one another.

Remember is second in the five-book Redemption series by Gary Smalley and Karen Kingsbury that centers around the Baxter family. As readers follow the hopes and struggles of the family, they will explore key relationship themes as well as the larger theme of redemption, both in characters’ spiritual lives and in their relationships. Tyndale House Publishers

Meet the Author

More by this Author

USA Today and New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury is America’s #1 inspirational novelist. She has written more than forty novels and there are over 15 million copies of her award-winning books in print. Visit her Web site at www.KarenKingsbury.com.

Read an Excerpt

Remember

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Chapter One

Dr. John Baxter received news of the fire the moment he arrived at St. Anne's Hospital that afternoon. An emergency-room nurse flagged him down on his way back from rounds, her face stricken.

"Stay nearby; we might need you. An apartment complex is burning to the ground. A couple of families trapped inside. At least two fatalities. And we're already shorthanded."

John felt the familiar rush of adrenaline that came with working around disaster. He filled in only occasionally at the hospital emergency room-in the summers when he didn't have classes to teach, or when a disaster of some sort demanded extra personnel. But for him the excitement of ER medicine never lessened. It was as quick and consuming now as it had ever been.

He glanced at the others making preparations and then back to the nurse. "What happened?" Already sirens were blaring across Bloomington.

The nurse shook her head. "No one's sure. They're still working the blaze. They lost track of two men, firefighters." She paused. "Everyone's fearing the worst."

Firefighters? John's heart sank to his waist.

He followed her into the back, where a flurry of medical personnel were preparing for the first victims. "Did you get their names? The missing men?"

John felt the blood drain from his face as he launched into silent, fervent prayer. He prayed for the people fighting the fire and the families trapped inside-and for the missing men of Engine 211.

He pictured them lost in an inferno, risking their lives to save mothers and fathers and children. He imagined them buried beneath burning rubble or cut off from all communications with their chief.

Then he prayed for one of Engine 211's men in particular. A strapping young man who had loved John Baxter's middle daughter, Ashley, since the two of them were teenagers.

The money was running out.

That was the main reason Ashley Baxter was out looking for a job on that beautiful summer morning-the type of blue-skied, flower-bursting day perfect for creating art.

The settlement from her car accident four years ago was almost gone, and though she'd paid cash for her house, she and little Cole still needed money to live on-at least until her paintings began to sell.

Ashley sighed and ran her hand through her short-cropped, dark hair. She studied the ad in the paper once more:

Care worker for adult group home. Some medical training preferred. Salary and benefits.

As mundane as it sounded, it might be just the job she wanted. She'd checked with her father and found out that caregiver pay tended to be barely above minimum wage. She'd be working mostly with Alzheimer's patients-people with dementia or other age-related illnesses, folks unable to survive on their own. She would have wrinkled bodies to tend, hairy chins to wipe, and most likely diapers to change. The job wasn't glamorous.

But Ashley didn't mind. She had reasons for wanting the job. Since returning from her sojourn in Paris, everything about her life had changed. She was only twenty-five, but she felt years older, jaded and cynical. She rarely laughed, and she wasn't the kind of mother Cole needed. Despite the heads she turned, she felt old and used up-even ugly.

Paris was partly to blame for who she had become. But much of it was due to all the running she had done since then. Running from her parents' viewpoints, their tiresome religion, their attempts to mold her into a woman she could never be. And running from Landon Blake-from his subtle but persistent advances and the predictable lifestyle she'd be forced into if she ever fell in love with him.

Whatever the reason, she was aware that something tragic had happened to her heart in the four years since she had come home from Europe. It had grown cold-colder than the wind that whipped across Bloomington, Indiana, in mid-January. And that, in turn, was affecting her only true passion-her ability to paint. She still worked at it, still filled up canvases, but it had been years since she did anything truly remarkable.

Ashley turned off South Walnut and began searching for the address of the group home. In addition to bringing in a paycheck, working with old people might ward off the cold deep within her, might even melt the ice that had gathered around her soul over the years. She had always felt a kind of empathy for old folks, an understanding. Somehow they stirred a place in her heart that nothing else could touch.

She remembered driving through town a week ago and seeing two ancient women-hunched-over, gnarled old girls, probably in their nineties-walking arm in arm down the sidewalk. They had taken careful, measured steps, and when one started to slip, the other held her up.

Ashley had pulled over that afternoon and studied them from a distance, thinking they'd make a good subject for her next painting. Who were they, and what had they seen in their long lifetimes? Did they remember the tragedy of the Titanic? Had they lost sons in World War II-or had they themselves served somehow? Were the people they loved still alive or close enough to visit?

Had they been beautiful, flitting from one social event to another with a number of handsome boys calling after them? And did they grieve the way they'd become invisible-now that society no longer noticed them?

Ashley watched the women step carefully into an intersection and then freeze with fear when the light turned, catching them halfway across. An impatient driver laid on his horn, honking in sharp, staccato patterns. The expression on the women's faces became nervous and then frantic. They hurried their feet, shuffling in such a way that they nearly fell. When they reached the other side, they stopped to catch their breath, and again Ashley wondered.

Was this all that was left for these ladies-angry drivers impatient with their slow steps and physical challenges? Was that all the attention they'd receive on a given day?

The most striking thing about the memory was that as the questions came, Ashley's cheeks had grown wet. She popped down the visor and stared at her reflection. Something was happening to her that hadn't happened in months. Years, even.

She was crying.

And that was when she had realized the depth of her problem. The fact was, her experiences had made her cynical. And if she was ever going to create unforgettable artwork, she needed something more than a canvas and a brush. She needed a heart, tender and broken, able to feel in ways she'd long since forgotten.

That afternoon as she watched the two old women, a thought occurred to Ashley. Perhaps she had unwittingly stumbled upon a way to regain the softness that had long ago died. If she wanted a changed heart, perhaps she need only spend time with the aged.

That's why the ad in this morning's paper was so appealing.

She drove slowly, scanning the addresses on the houses until she found the one she was looking for. Her interview was in five minutes. She pulled into the driveway, taking time to study the outside of the building. "Sunset Hills Adult Care Home" a sign read. The building was mostly brick, with a few small sections of beige siding and a roof both worn and sagging. The patch of grass in front was neatly manicured, shaded at the side by a couple of adolescent maple trees. A gathering of rosebushes struggled to produce a few red and yellow blossoms in front of a full-sized picture window to the right of the door. A wiry, gray-haired woman with loose skin stared out at her through the dusty glass, her eyes nervous and empty.

Ashley drew a deep breath and surveyed the place once more. It seemed nice enough, the type of facility that drew little or no attention and served its purpose well. What was it her father called homes like this one? She thought for a moment, and it came to her.

Heaven's waiting rooms.

Sirens sounded in the distance, lots of them. Sirens usually meant one thing: it'd be a busy day for her father. And maybe Landon Blake. Ashley blocked out the sound and checked the mirror. Even she could see the twinlike resemblance between herself and Kari, her older sister. Other than Kari's eyes, which were as brown as Ashley's were blue, they were nearly identical.

But the resemblance stopped there.

Kari was good and pure and stoic, and even now-five months after the death of her husband, with a two-month-old baby to care for by herself-Kari could easily find a reason to smile, to believe the best about life and love.

And God, of course. Always God.

Ashley bit her lip and opened the car door. Determination mingled with the humid summer air as she grabbed her purse and headed up the walkway. With each step, she thought again of those two old ladies, how she had cried at their condition-lonely, isolated, and forgotten.

As Ashley reached the front door, a thought dawned on her. The reason the women had been able to warm the cold places in her heart was suddenly clear.

In all ways that mattered, she was just like them.

There was no way out.

Landon Blake was trapped on the second floor somewhere in the middle of the burning apartment complex. Searing walls of flames raged on either side of him and, for the first time since becoming a firefighter, Landon had lost track of the exits. Every door and window was framed in fire.

His partner had to be somewhere nearby, but they'd separated to make the room checks more quickly. Now the fire had grown so intense, he wasn't sure they'd ever find each other in time. Landon grabbed his radio from its pocket on his upper jacket and positioned it near his air mask. Then he turned a valve so his words would be understood.

"Mayday ... Mayday ..."

He stuck the radio close to his ear and waited, but only a crackling static answered him. A few seconds passed, and the voice of his captain sounded on the radio.

"Lieutenant Blake, report your whereabouts."

Hope flashed in Landon's heart. He placed the radio near the valve in his mask once more. "Lieutenant Blake reporting Mayday, sir. I can't find my way out."

There was a pause. "Lieutenant Blake, report your whereabouts."

Landon's stomach tightened. "I'm on the second floor, sir. Can you hear me?"

"Lieutenant Blake, this is your captain. Report your whereabouts immediately." A brief hesitation followed; then the captain's tone grew urgent. "RIT enter the building now! Report to the second floor. I repeat, RIT report to the second floor."

RIT? Landon forced himself to breathe normally. RIT was the Rapid Intervention Team, the two firefighters who waited on alert at any job in case someone from the engine company became lost in the fire. The command could mean only one thing: Landon's radio wasn't working. His captain had no idea that he'd become separated from his partner or where to begin looking for him.

Landon made his way into the smoky hallway and heard his radio come to life again. He held it close to his ear.

"This is an alert. We have two men trapped on the second floor, and the radios aren't working for either of them. Backup units are on the way, but until then I need everyone in the building. Let's move it!"

So he was right. The radios weren't working. Dear God, help us....

Landon fought off a wave of fear. In situations like this he'd been trained to scan the room for victims and then fight his way out of the building. Choose the most likely place for an exit and barge through burning beams and broken glass. Do whatever it took to be free of the building.

But Landon had gone back into the building for one reason: to find a five-year-old boy in one of the apartments. He would find the child-dead or alive-and bring him out. He had promised the boy's frantic mother, and he didn't intend to break the promise.

The smoke grew dense, dropping visibility to almost nothing. Landon fell to his knees and crawled along the floor. The flames roared on either side of him, filling his senses with intense heat and smoke. Don't think about the broken radios. They'll find me any minute. Help is on the way. Please, God.

He still had his personal accountability safety system, a box on his air pack that would send out a high-pitched sound the moment he stopped moving. If that signal worked, there was still a pretty good chance his engine company might locate him. But they'd have to get here fast. If they waited much longer, ceiling beams would begin to fall. And then ...

Landon squinted through the smoke, his body heaving from the excruciating heat and the weight of his equipment. God, help me. He crept through a burning hallway door. I need a miracle. Show me the boy.

Just ahead of him he saw something fall to the ground-something small, the size of a ceiling tile or maybe a wall hanging. Or a small child. Landon lurched ahead and there, at the bottom of a linen closet, he found the boy and rolled him onto his back. He held a glove against the boy's chest and felt a faint rise and fall.

The child was alive!

Landon jerked the air mask from his own face and shoved it onto the boy's. He switched the mask from demand to positive pressure, forcing a burst of air onto the child's face. The boy must have hidden in the closet when the fire started, and now here they were-both trapped. Landon coughed hard and tried to breathe into his coat as the acrid smoke invaded his lungs.

Then he heard crashing sounds around him, and he glanced up. No, God, not now.

Flaming pieces of the ceiling were beginning to fall! He hovered over the child and used his body as a covering. Inches from the boy's face, he was struck by the resemblance. The boy looked like a slightly older version of Cole, Ashley's son.

"Hang in there, buddy!" Landon yelled above the roar of the fire. He removed the mask from the boy for just an instant and held the child's nose while he grabbed another precious lungful of air. Then he quickly replaced the mask over the boy's face. "They're coming for us."

He heard a cracking sound so loud and violent it shook the room. Before Landon could move, a ceiling beam fell from the roof and hit him across the back of his legs. He felt something snap deep inside his right thigh, and pain exploded through his body. Move, he ordered himself. He strained and pushed and tried to leverage the beam off his leg. But no matter how hard he tried he couldn't get free. His legs were pinned by the burning wood.

"God!" The pain intensified, and he reeled his head back, his jaw clenched. "Help us!"

He fought to stay conscious as he lowered himself over the boy once more.

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Loved this book!
The chapters about Ashley and the things she d

Loved this book!

The chapters about Ashley and the things she discovered and learned at her new job are wonderful. Thetime that she started putting into other people including her own son shows how far she has come in herjourney. The heartbreak Luke and Reagan face after 9/11 starts Luke on a downward spiral that his family is powerless to stop. Kari is making major progress healing from her heartbreak. I can't wait to see what happens to the family next.

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Anonymous

Posted February 9, 2015

Penumbra: Rules and Ranks

Welcome to the Penumbra. As you know we have rules, just like any clan or rogue group. Here there will be NO tolerance of rule breaking. Well lets get to the rules so you know what to do. <p> Rule 1: Never argue with the Falcon or Hawks. <br> Rule 2: You MUST post a bio to be accepted into the Penumbra otherwise you will be ignored. <br> Rule 3: There are just a few punishments for rule breaking, such as death or being given a permanant scar. <br> Rule 4: Cowards are not accepted. Any cat who dares join and is a coward will be scarred by a lower ranked cat who will take your place. <br> Rule 5: No powers or godmobbing are allowed. The punishment for this is to be ranked down to a Sparrow. <br> Rule 6: A cat lower than a Osprey is not allowed to have a mate or kits. The punishment is exile or maybe even death. <br> Rule 7: Follow all rules, even ones that are not listed. Also have fun killing because you can raid without permission, but there will be planned raids too. <p> Ranks from Highest to Lowest: <br> Falcon <br> Hawk <br> Owl <br> Osprey <br> Sparrow <br> Prisoner

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Gulfview

Posted October 3, 2014

Highly recommended

WOW,, another wonderful book from Karen kingsbury,
I read this book in a few days- it is a highly recommended read.
You can't miss with this author- so interesting, and there is a lesson in this story- we all could use !!!

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Anonymous

Posted July 28, 2014

Hfi

Sun moon creature sand tree

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Anonymous

Posted February 6, 2014

Great book!!

I love this series a lot! The stories at the home where Ashley is working are great. My mother was in a home for a short period of time and I could totally relate to the emotions that Ashley was feeling. I remember being with my mother one day and feeling like I was going completely crazy. The residents were restless, banging on the table, repeating the words "where is my tray" over and over again. Introducing themselves to me every few minutes. Then we went into a room where they were having a small "church" service. They played "the old rugged cross". I looked around the room and every one of them were singing word for word to that song. I could do nothing but sit there with tears and amazement at the realization that even in places like that, where it seems so hopeless and lonely, God is there with them.

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bw38

Posted September 21, 2013

Love this series

Love this series

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Anonymous

Posted February 22, 2013

Remember

Another great book in this series

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Anonymous

Posted June 22, 2012

Good, but sad

This book was a lot about 9/11

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Anonymous

Posted June 1, 2012

Fabulous

......... wow words dont even explain i love this book at age 12 it is fantastic i love karen and i love her books this is a great book<3

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Grammiegrl

Posted April 7, 2012

Very good!

Started the series and could not put them down. Very believeable characters. Only complaint would be a little too much repetition but skim over that and you will love the books, already started the next series. Feel like I know the families.

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TammyK1

Posted March 29, 2012

I Also Recommend:

Karen Kingsbury inspires me with her words and stories. Her book

Karen Kingsbury inspires me with her words and stories. Her books go beyond simple storytyelling with their expertly woven messages. She's truly gifted. This book is an amazing example.

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diinky

Posted March 18, 2012

Very Highly Recommend

I've read all of Karen Kingsbury books. Another good one and I'm not waiting on "Loving," the last of the Bailey Flannigan series.

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Pennie8

Posted February 21, 2012

Highly recommended. Read the whole series!

I love this series about the Baxter family and their trials, joys, sorrows and their never ending faith in God. These books have reminded me to lean on God and to study his word and the blessings and wisdom that you gain will help you in your life. Remember is the second book in the series and is mostly about Ashley Baxter. I highly recommend this book and the whole series.

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songbirdsue

Posted February 8, 2012

WOW

This chapter in the Baxter family's lives involves the 9-11 tragedy which I remember very well. We see how this event effects the Baxter family. Another gripping book dealing with difficult life experiences. I had to read the next one immediately.

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Anonymous

Posted February 6, 2012

Highly Recommended

Love Karen Kingsbury. Entertaining and heart-warming. Continuation of the story of the Baxter family and leaves me excited to read more.

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Anonymous

Posted January 7, 2012

A must read!!!!!

This series so far is amazing! These books is like breathing fresh air again there is no other way to explain it! I had a friend recommend this series and this is the best series i have ever read!

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Anonymous

Posted December 27, 2011

Absolutely terrific...

I have never read anything like the first two books of the redemption series and i cannot wait to read the rest of the books. I read remember in one day without putting it down at all. I cannot wait to see what happens to the Baxter family next!

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Anonymous

Posted November 22, 2011

Highly recommended

Kingsbury has caught my attention with this series. So emotional and real to life happenings. The inspiration and encouragement of prayer and belief throughout the pages has been just what I needed.
I'm moving on to the third and fourth without a doubt!

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Anonymous

Posted March 2, 2009

I Also Recommend:

Easy read

Great beach book, easy to read and engaging characters.

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Anonymous

Posted September 26, 2007

Love all her books!

This is the 7th book I've read by Karen Kingsbury and I can't put them down! I've started the 3rd book in the Redemption Series and I only wish a heard of Karen Kingsbury sooner !

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